Church Planting

Disciple Making Is Tough—Perseverance Is Your Superpower

perseverance in disciple-making

“What is the most important quality in a disciple-maker or church planter’s life?” she asked. I paused, reflecting on the many traits that came to mind—diligence, prayer, passion for the lost, and the ability to inspire others. One quality stood out above the rest: perseverance. Without perseverance, Disciple Making Movements (DMMs) rarely take root. God …

Pruning for Fruitfulness: A Hard but Necessary Step in Disciple Making

Pruning is rarely pleasant. It often makes things look worse before they get better. Outside my home in Thailand, flowering shrubs line the walkway. Every few months, I trim them back—even the branches still blooming. It feels counterintuitive, but it’s essential for their health and future growth. The same principle applies to disciple-making. If we …

Disciple-Making Without Drift: The Power of Tracking Progress

track progress

I grew up in Minneapolis, a city known for its beautiful lakes. On sunny days, we’d rent kayaks and paddle across the water. One thing I quickly learned: if I didn’t keep my eyes fixed on the shore, I’d end up paddling around in circles without ever reaching my destination. Disciple-making movement (DMM) efforts can …

Disciple-making in Urban Slums: Navigating Ethnic and Cultural Complexity

Urban Disciples-making

Urban slum communities are often ethnically and religiously diverse, united by poverty, but divided by deep cultural and social barriers. For those pursuing Disciple Making Movements (DMMs), this complexity presents both challenges and opportunities. DMMs grow through natural relationship networks—friends, family, and neighbors. We call these networks our oikos. These networks often follow ethnic or, …

Avoiding Shallow Growth in Rapidly Expanding Gospel Movements

dangers of rapid movement growth

Disciple Making Movements grow quickly—sometimes too quickly. While rapid multiplication is exciting and necessary because millions remain lost without Christ, this growth must be healthy, sustainable, and rooted in strong discipleship. Why Rapid Growth Matters Our world is hurting—both spiritually and physically. The faster we reach lost souls with the Gospel, the more we reflect …